The most black, most aesthetically appealing solar panel... What it is?

[carzin]

So, I am working hard to convince my HOA that represents a community with 900+ homes that I should be the first solar house in the neighborhood (in North Carolina), and that the panels be installed on the front. My request is over 30 pages in length, including a powerpoint. I have ranking officials with the state DENR, signed letters from council members, and neighbor's support. I have a good shot at this.

Along with the solar install, I am installing a charcoal black roof. The proposal is for 22 Hyundai MG series black mono panels to be installed (with black frames) as well as black mounting gear. I want it as black as possible. My installer is going to bring a panel by for me to take to the meeting (if I deem it would be a wise move). Its hard to tell if the gridding in the MG panel will be apparent or not, especially when it is mounted high and matching the pitch of the roof.

With that said, what are my best options for the most aesthetically appealing panel? Don't bother mentioning solar shingles. And I can't afford the ridiculously over the top solar power panels. My 6 kW system is being installed for just under 20k. I can push it another 3-4k if I feel the panels will look a lot better.

Since I am in the first in the neighborhood, I am attempting to be a role model so that people that follow me won't have a hard time.

[sensij]

One person's idea of aesthetically pleasing is not always the same as another's. Another option you might want to look into if homogenous appearance is your thing are frameless modules, especially those with a black back sheet. Lumos has some nice pictures, but price might be double what you'd pay for standard panels. Sunpreme frameless panels might be on the list too... they've just rolled over the product line, and not many pictures are up yet with the newest panels. Sunpower's "Signature Black" is a framed panel that sounds like what you are looking for, but won't be inexpensive either.

I'm going with black frame / black backsheet on mine, but they are polycrystalline panels, so there will still be a blue tint to them. Definitely make sure you see an actual panel and like it, because the pictures and descriptions can be misleading. There is picture of a black/black Solarworld panel in this post, but there are still some very distinct lines you might not like. I suspect the Hyundai's will look a lot like that.

[nomorecoal]

We had a similar issue with our HOA. Ultimately we decided on (1) required panels to be installed in symmetry, (2) black mount and (3) hide inverter from public view.

Most of us decided to install the inverter in the basement.

Going anything beyond will face resistance and will also complicate things with advancement in technology.

[ButchDeal]

So, I am working hard to convince my HOA that represents a community with 900+ homes that I should be the first solar house in the neighborhood (in North Carolina), and that the panels be installed on the front. My request is over 30 pages in length, including a powerpoint. I have ranking officials with the state DENR, signed letters from council members, and neighbor's support. I have a good shot at this.

Along with the solar install, I am installing a charcoal black roof. The proposal is for 22 Hyundai MG series black mono panels to be installed (with black frames) as well as black mounting gear. I want it as black as possible. My installer is going to bring a panel by for me to take to the meeting (if I deem it would be a wise move). Its hard to tell if the gridding in the MG panel will be apparent or not, especially when it is mounted high and matching the pitch of the roof.

With that said, what are my best options for the most aesthetically appealing panel? Don't bother mentioning solar shingles. And I can't afford the ridiculously over the top solar power panels. My 6 kW system is being installed for just under 20k. I can push it another 3-4k if I feel the panels will look a lot better.

Since I am in the first in the neighborhood, I am attempting to be a role model so that people that follow me won't have a hard time.

You should be come very familiar with the law in NC as it is not great for solar:

http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=NC08R

http://www.ncleg.net/documentsites/committees/HSCHA/Committee%20Meetings/Presentations/HOA%20Solar%20Access%20Issues%20%203-31-10.pdf

However: an Association may regulate the location of the installation and require screening so long as doing so does not “have the effect of preventing reasonable use of a solar collector for a residential property.”

So in NC, the HOA can not block the installation of solar nor substantially impact the cost of going solar.

Also if you are trying to be Energy star ready you would want to put on very light shingles to reflect the most energy and keep the attic cool.
So on the very light grey roofs, silver frames and poly modules look great.

[Alisobob]

sw7.JPGsw8.JPGsw9.JPGsw10.JPG

Solarworld 270 Mono Black....

[PVAndy]

So, I am working hard to convince my HOA that represents a community with 900+ homes that I should be the first solar house in the neighborhood (in North Carolina), and that the panels be installed on the front. My request is over 30 pages in length, including a powerpoint. I have ranking officials with the state DENR, signed letters from council members, and neighbor's support. I have a good shot at this.

Along with the solar install, I am installing a charcoal black roof. The proposal is for 22 Hyundai MG series black mono panels to be installed (with black frames) as well as black mounting gear. I want it as black as possible. My installer is going to bring a panel by for me to take to the meeting (if I deem it would be a wise move). Its hard to tell if the gridding in the MG panel will be apparent or not, especially when it is mounted high and matching the pitch of the roof.

With that said, what are my best options for the most aesthetically appealing panel? Don't bother mentioning solar shingles. And I can't afford the ridiculously over the top solar power panels. My 6 kW system is being installed for just under 20k. I can push it another 3-4k if I feel the panels will look a lot better.

Since I am in the first in the neighborhood, I am attempting to be a role model so that people that follow me won't have a hard time.

In my opinion nothing looks as good as the SunPower X21-335 Black

expensive 21/5 % efficient panel The panel on the left is the 335

Andy51e4a8fb873a5.jpg

[karl0525]

lg solar

Lg mono x black looks awesome my 2 cents

[carzin]

Lg mono x black looks awesome my 2 cents

Thanks for all the replies! I am getting a sample panel on Monday. I don't believe the grid lines are as apparent as the images above. The installer has sent me pictures of installs and you can't see anything other than black. I don't think frameless is going to help me. My system is going to be a microinverted system and I need a place to hide the modules.

On the roof color. Roof color makes very little difference in energy use in my area, and any negative effects can be illuminated with a little more insulation. The goal of this install is for it to be as aesthetically pleas able as possible. Having a black panel on a white roof in the front of the house would not meet that goal.

I found out through my spies that the ARB is going to claim these will lower house values. Little do they know that will be the easiest position to anihilate. I am being told the board only is going to care about the look.

[inetdog]

I found out through my spies that the ARB is going to claim these will lower house values. Little do they know that will be the easiest position to anihilate. I am being told the board only is going to care about the look.

Somewhere in one of the threads on, I believe, this forum, there is a link to a study which shows that solar PV increases the resale value of the house on which it is installed. But it does not say anything about its effect on the value of the neighbor's houses if they do not follow suit.

[J.P.M.]

Thanks for all the replies! I am getting a sample panel on Monday. I don't believe the grid lines are as apparent as the images above. The installer has sent me pictures of installs and you can't see anything other than black. I don't think frameless is going to help me. My system is going to be a microinverted system and I need a place to hide the modules.

On the roof color. Roof color makes very little difference in energy use in my area, and any negative effects can be illuminated with a little more insulation. The goal of this install is for it to be as aesthetically pleas able as possible. Having a black panel on a white roof in the front of the house would not meet that goal.

I found out through my spies that the ARB is going to claim these will lower house values. Little do they know that will be the easiest position to anihilate. I am being told the board only is going to care about the look.

A thought or two:

- Since roof color makes little diff. in energy use beyond some added insulation, the black roof will probably reduce the impact. Also, monolithic panels with zero clearance, sitting directly on, or embedded in the roof will be less visual still. Efficiency will drop a fair amount, and getting at the inverters when they fry will be tough, but if the goal is to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible, sounds like most bang for the buck electric bill reduction is not paramount. ???

- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Aesthetically pleasing to who ? After 2-3 weeks or so, neighbors probably won't see an array as it fits into their daily visual experience anyway. Anecdotally, there are ~ 60+ solar installs in my HOA of about 550+ homes. People stopped bitching about how ugly they are shortly after the installs started about 6 yrs. ago. No one even notices now, much less bitches about how ugly they are. Times change. The new/scary becomes common.

- A piece of property is only worth what someone is willing to pay. Studies claiming property value changes up and down are usually local to some degree, and because of the mercurial nature of real estate prices and opinions about what's desirable, probably less than rock solid. Most such work is, IMO, little better than speculation on all sides, often from sources with skin in the game, or no knowledge of the solar process.
A couple of possible, brief examples of many: Today's "darling" solar electric on a house may add value today due to trendiness, and remove value X years in the future when the current array becomes a dinosaur or an eyesore. Or, it may detract today because it's perceived as ugly, but may add value in 10 years when/if net metering is no longer allowed for new installs, and the ugly array still has 10 years to run on a lucrative and grandfathered net metering agreement that runs with the system. Plug in your own scenarios. Point is, no one knows what the future holds. My crystal ball is still in the shop.

- Check state/local statutes that may pertain to your situation, re: what HOA's can/cannot do. There are often limits.

- I'd hazard a guess that your HOA is more resistant to any change period than they are anti-solar per se. Think like the adversary - from their perspective. They have 900 homeowners, many of whom, maybe most, may well be pretty conservative. You may think your planned array(s) are neat. Some of your neighbors may well feel threatened for any number of reasons. Valid or not, in such situations perception is everything.

Sounds like you're doing the things that can help the ARB want to say yes and still keep the peace. Good luck.

Take what you want of the above, scrap the rest.

[Alisobob]

Things like shag carpeting, wood paneling, and huge gigantic stereo speakers all came and went...

On the other hand... free electricity will never go out out style.


solar37.JPG

[russ]

Things like shag carpeting, wood paneling, and huge gigantic stereo speakers all came and went...

On the other hand... free electricity will never go out out style.

You mean prepaid electricity - unless you don't plan to ask any additional amount for the home when selling.

[SoCalsolar]

The Lumos mentioned earlier in

The Lumos panels mentioned earlier in the thread get my vote. The frameless panels in my opinion look better than any black framed panel i have seen. They aren't bad on the wallet either. Most people don't even know what color their roof is but some will really throw a fit when talk of solar on the front of the house comes up. Good luck and I like the approach. HOAs, I hope I never live in a neighborhood so dangerous I have to pay protection money because of my neighbors. Let us know how it turns out.

[SunEagle]

The Lumos panels mentioned earlier in the thread get my vote. The frameless panels in my opinion look better than any black framed panel i have seen. They aren't bad on the wallet either. Most people don't even know what color their roof is but some will really throw a fit when talk of solar on the front of the house comes up. Good luck and I like the approach. HOAs, I hope I never live in a neighborhood so dangerous I have to pay protection money because of my neighbors. Let us know how it turns out.

The concept of HOA's was for a group of people (voted in by the majority of home owners) to be the look out for their neighborhood and make sure nothing was built or installed that could devalue their properties.

It sounds good on paper but due to most humans wanting to be in control a lot of HOA's have turned into "mini dynasty" where the ruling body takes control over the general populace.

I spent 8 years on my HOA board in various positions only to determine that even logic and reasoning will not persuade some board member from letting go of their wants and desires to control others to see that their way is better.

[control4userguy]

Things like shag carpeting, wood paneling, and huge gigantic stereo speakers all came and went...

On the other hand... free electricity will never go out out style.


[ATTACH=CONFIG]5592[/ATTACH]

Nothing is free. It also appears you have oversized your system. Is selling back energy that much of a joy?